While the Undertaker Sleeps

Peter Johnson, a pivotal figure in American prose poetry, showcases his mastery in "While the Undertaker Sleeps: Collected and New Prose Poems." This collection highlights his darkly comic and poignant style, which has been influential in reviving and advancing the prose poem genre over the past three decades. Johnson's work embodies characteristics he champions as a critic, including directness, intellectual depth, and an exploration of irony and absurdity. His contributions have significantly shaped the prominence of prose poetry both in America and globally.